Furnace for burning refuse.



PATENTBD NOV. 15, 1904.

T. O. CLARK. FURNACE FOR BURNING REFUSE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, 1904' NO MODEL.

Q Q-ihwown 5 PATENTED NOV. 15, 1904. T. G. CLARK. FURNACE FOR BURNING REFUSE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. 1904.

V 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NO MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented November 15, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

FURNACE FOR BURNING REFUSE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 774,936, datedNovember 15, 1904.

Application filed March 22, 19(14.

To all whom, it 7mm concern;

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing atCambridge, in the county of Guernsey and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Furnaces for Burning.

Refuse, of which the following is aspecification. 7 Y This invention appertains to means. for bolding excrement or other refuse and for consuming same at stated intervals, thereby obviating the necessity for haulage of the same to the dump or other place of general deposit.

In its special adaptation the invention ,is designed for use as an Outhouse or privy, provisions being had for getting rid of the liquids while retaining the solid matter, which when" required is consumed, the residue or ashes be ing readily disposed of in substantially the same manner as ashes from any furnace or The invention further consists ofthe novel features and structural details, substantially as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a structure embodying the invention,a portion being broken away. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinalsection of the device, the upper portion of the stack and housing being broken away. Fig.

3 is a transverse section on the line w a: of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow, the bottom plate being held close against the under side of the grate and the upper plate being turned to restagainst the rear wall of the vault or box. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the lower plate dropped and the upper plate closing the'space, so as to confine the fumes, odor, and products of combustion and direct same to the stack.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Within the purview of the invention the Serial No. 199,402. (No model.)

- receptacle. box, or vault 1 maybe of any material; but it is preferred to construct same of masonry or brickwork of a size depending upon the use and required capacity. A grate 2 is arranged within the vault or receptacle 1 a distance above the bottom thereof, so as to provide a chamber 3 for reception of the fire employed for consuming the excrementor refuse matter, as the case may be. The grate 2 may be supported in any manner, preferably by means of plates 4: let intothe masonry and projected into the space of the receptacle a short distance to form a rest upon which the grate is placed. An opening 5 is provided in an end wall of the vault and is adapted to be closed by adoor 6, the latter being preferably a metal plate pivoted at its upper end to the plate 4, arranged above the openingo, so as to be turned aside when it is required to gain access to the chamber or space 3. Obviously the door 6 may be of any construction and mounted in any determinate manner.

A stack 7 is in communication with the box or vault 1 and may extend to any height and consist of any suitable material, masonry or brickwork being preferred. The stack? is located at the endof the receptacle or vault 1 opposite. to that provided with the doorcon,

trolled opening 5, whereby draft may sweep the entire length of the receptacle or vault when the refuse matter is being consumed. The opening 8, establishing communication between the vault or receptacle and the stack 7 is immediately above the plane of the grate 2. An observation-opening 9 is provided in the end wall of the vault above the opening 5 and is adapted to be closed, if desired, by means of any refractory material. A rake or scraper 11 normally occupies the inner end of the vault or receptacle, and the pole or handle 12, connected thereto, extends through an opening 13 in a wall of the stack 7. This rake or scraper acts as a fender to prevent the excrement or refuse passing from the vault into the stack through the opening 8, and when the matter has been burned the rake may be operated to clear the grate-bars of the ash or other residue, said rake being operated from a point without the structure by upper plate and the other,1 1,as the lower means of the pole or handle 12, as will be, readily comprehended.

A plate 14 is provided and is adapted to close upward against the grate 2 and to re tain the excrement or refuse. The plate 1& is perforated to admit the escape of any liquid matter deposited in the vault or receptacle, said liquid matter escaping into the earth by seepage or other means that may be determined upon. The plate 14. is preferably hinged at one edge adjacent to the rear wall of the vault, as shown at 15. A second plate, 16, is arranged a distance above the grate and opens upward against the rear wall of the vault or receptacle, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 3. The plate 16 when closed downward, as indicated in Fig. 4, extends over the matter supported by means of the grate and confines all odor, fumes, and products of combustion and compels same to pass through the opening 8 into the stack 7. The plate 16 is hinged, as at 17, and is adapted to be operated by means of a chain, cord, or analogous flexible connection 18, connected thereto and passed through an opening in the rear wall of the vault. In order to distinguish the two plates more readily, the one, 16, is designated as the plate. The two plates are connected by the cord or chain 19 for simultaneous operation, the plate 14: dropping as the plate 16 is lowered and closing upward as the plate 16 is elevated. The connection 19 passes through a guide-eye 20 in the inner or front wall of the receptacle or vault. Obviously any means may be employed for operating the plates 1t and 16 either separately or in unison.

The vault or receptacle 1 is closed at its upper end by the cover 21, in which is formed the openings to admit of the droppings entering the receptacle when the same is used in the capacity of a commode or privy. The housing 22 inclosing the vault or receptacle may be of usual construction and is provided with a door to admit of ingress and egress. Obviously when the device is to be used simply for the purpose of consuming garbage or like refuse the housing or superstructure 22 and the cover 21 may be dispensed with; but the same are essential when the invention is installed for use as a privy.

In Fig. 3 the lower plate 1 1 is shown closed against the grate 2 and the plate 16 opened against the rear wall of the vault or receptacle, thereby admitting the excrement being retained above the grate, while liquid matter may pass off. \V hen it becomes necessary to consume the matter deposited upon the grate, a fire is built in the chamber 3 and the plates 14: and 16 are dropped, the latter to close the vault and the former to uncover the grate to admit of fire reaching the matter. As the fire burns the matter is gradually consumed, the fumes and products of combustion passing off through the stack 7 \Vhen the device is constructed solely for use as a garbage or like i refuse burner, the matter to be consumed is dumped into the vault or receptacle, the plates 14 and 16 being arranged, as shown in Fig. 3, to admit of escape of liquids,while retaining the solid matter. After the receptacle or vault has received a'charge according to its capacity, the plate 14 is dropped and the plate 16 closed, and the fire in the chamber 3 operates in the manner heretofore stated.

In order to provide for a draft during the initial operation of the furnace, a plate 23 is arranged within the vault or receptacle, adjacent to the front wall, and a rod 2 L extends therefrom through the opening 9. hen starting the fire, the plate 28 is moved inward a short distance by means of the rod 24, thereby pushing the refuse away from the front wall a distance to provide a passage for the flame and products of combustion. The draft starting at the outer end of the vault causes the refuse to burn gradually from said end toward the stack. 7

The bottom of the chamber or space 3 is covered by a metal plate 25, which is perforated to admit of the escape of liquids. In the construction of the burner a space is formed beneath the perforated plate 25 and ashes are filled therein, so as to readily absorb the liquids and carry off the same. The plate 25 prevents the fire from coming in direct contact with the absorbent bed and enables the ashes and other residue to be readily removed at the end of each operation.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a refuse-burner of the character described, the combination, of a receptacle or vault, a grate arranged within the receptacle to provide a space therebelow, a stack in communication with an end of the receptacle ata point above the plane of thegrate, adoor-controlled opening in the opposite end of the receptacle at a point below the said grate, and a plate for closing upward against the bottom of the grate and adapted to swing downward and out of the way, substantially as set forth.

2. In a refuse-burner of the character described, the combination, of a receptacle or vault, a grate arranged within the receptacle to provide a space therebelow, a stack in communication with an end of the receptacle at a point above the plane of the grate, a door-controlled opening in the opposite end of the receptacle at a point below the said grate, a plate for closing upward against the bottom of the grate and adapted to swing downward and out of the way, and asecond plate arranged above the grate and adapted to open upward and constructed when closed to extend over the matter deposited upon the grate and to confine the fumes and products of combustion, substantially as set forth.

3. In a refuse-burner of the character described, the combination, of a receptacle or vault, a grate arranged within the receptacle to provide a space therebelow, a stack in com munication with an end of the receptacle at a point above the plane of the grate, adoor-controlled opening in the opposite end of the receptacle at a point below the said grate, a plate for closing upward against the bottom of the grate and adapted to swing downward and out of the way, a second plate arranged above the grate and adapted to open upward and constructed when closed to extend over the matter deposited upon the grate and to confine the fumes and products of combustion, and means connecting the two plates whereby the same move in unison in the same direction either upward or downward, substantially as set forth.

4:. In a refuse-burner of the character described, the combination, of a receptacle or vault, a grate arranged within the receptacle to provide a space therebelow, a stack in communication with an end of the receptacle at a point above the plane of the grate, a door-controlled opening in the opposite end of the re- 'ceptaole at a point below the said grate, aplate for closing upward against the bottom of the grate and adapted to swing downward and out of the way, asecond plate arranged above the grate and adapted to open upward and constructed when closed to extend over the matter deposited upon the grate and to confine the fumes and products of combustiommeans connecting the two plates whereby the same move in unison in the same direction either upward or downward, and means connected with the upper plate and extended outward through an opening in the wall of the receptacle, whereby the plates may be moved from a point without the receptacle, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in presence of two witnesses. 

